Saturday, October 11, 2003

 
Consumer Search
This specialized database is an essential tool for finding consumer product reviews on the open web. Consumer Search is put together by a team based in DC. Here's what the Librarians' Index to the Internet has to say about Consumer Search, This resource reviews products, analyzes other reviews, and provides top-rated products listings. Their reviewers include "former writers for Consumer Reports, PC Magazine, and The New York Times; a Wall Street research analyst; and talent from dozens of major magazines and newspapers." Product categories include electronics, sports, office, kitchen, health, automotive, and garden. Material can be accessed by browsing or by keyword searching. Here's a link to a Consumer Search page with PDA product information. It cites 18 review sources (links are provided), summarizes findings, provides a very useful product comparison chart, and concludes with a fact-filled "review of the reviews." This is what Consumer Search calls the "full story." It's probably worth a few minutes of your time to take a look at Consumer Search FAQs. This section contains answers about review selection and how they separate editorial content from advertising. Each product reviewed also contains a direct link to several comparison pricing databases.